Ribble Valley Borough Council Planning and Development Committee supported a proposal that the local government framework or plan for the district for the 20 year period 2008 -2028  should be restricted to the construction 4000 homes and there will be a review in 5 years to consider the position .

 Ken Hind Dilworth Councillor commented '' The were only 14 of the total councillors on the Planning Committee and this proposal is yet to be ratified by the full council and approved in public consultation. The planning officers proposed that 220 houses per year be built or 4400 in total, and this was supported and moved by Councillor  Jim Rogerson (Independent)Alston and Hothersall, Longridge,who  moved that this proposal be adopted .

 ''This was opposed by the Conservatives on the committee, Councillor Terry Hill (Whalley)Vice Chairman proposed that the council officers recommendation should be amended to 200 a year , a reduction of 400 homes.  The amendment was supported by all Conservatives on the committee  with the exception  Councillor Ian  Brown Clitheroe Salthill. He felt that the figure was too high and he did not support the concept of a new village settlement on the Standen Estate on the edge of Clitheroe.

 ‘The 5 year review is an essential tool that  will mean that the Council will be able to assess the demand and construction of homes ,particular ly in the light of the economic situation and adapt the plans accordingly  The  Committee approved in principle within the numbers  a new settlement  at Standen  Village near Cltheroe of 1040 homes, subject to public consultation, planning application  and full council approval . 694 homes  have already been granted planning permission, a further 300 already completed,  leaving 1966 to be distributed throughout the Ribble Valley over the period to 2028.

 ‘The real argument has yet  to take place as to where these houses are to be built. In previous reports to the Planning Committee the local government officers seem to favour  building  the majority of these new houses in the major centres of population  in the Ribble Valley , Clitheroe, Whalley and Longridge,  However the villages will need new homes  for the children of village occupants and accommodation for the elderly when they retire . This will  maintain the vibrancy of the village communities , schools, shops, pubs and community facilities such as  village halls .

 ‘Longridge residents will argue rightly in my view  that they should not be required to carry too large a proportion of the remainder of 1966 houses. Longridge is  a divided community in local government terms with  part of it within  the City of Preston which has approved  a whole new community of 650 houses  at Whittingham. Preston have recently refused  an application for 240 proposed for  Whittingham Lane, half a mile from the centre of Longridge  which is expected  bee to go to appeal . There are sites along Half Penny Lane which the City of Preston have identified as potential development sites within half a mile of the centre of Longridge. All these factors must be taken into account when numbers of homes are allocated to the diverse communities in the Ribble Valley by the council.

'RVBC have received requests for pre- planning  advice from developers for the construction of over 4000 houses, a tide  sweeping over the Ribble Valley and Longridge .Developers  prefer  to build large houses on greenfield sites  in the attractive  Ribble Valley, producing larger profits , than construct smaller houses in the other  towns of  Lancashire, where the need is higher , but the profits lower.It is therefore important we have a Core Strategy or local plan  that will provide us with controls and  a defence to this constant demand to build houses.

Note To Editors

Councillor Rogerson supported the Conservative amendment when put to the vote